Tens-transferring mechanism



July 2, 1940.

K. M. VIGBORG 2,206,141

TENS -TRANSFERRING MECHANISM 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1957 y 2, 1940- K. M. VIGBORG TEN S- TRANSFERRING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,206,141 TENS -TRANSFERRING MECHANISM Karl Matts Vigborg, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Kooperativa Fiirbundet, Fiirening u. p. a.,

Stockholm, Sweden 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to tens-transfer mechanism for calculating devices of the kind in which the totalizer wheels of the different denominations can be actuated independently of one another and in which the tens-transferring member, which by spring actuation tends to assume a preparatory position, but is normally detained in a neutral position by a detaining device releasable by the next tens tooth, is arranged to be returned, against the spring action, from preparatory into neutral position, transferring tens at the same time. Such devices have been relatively expensive to manufacture and to assemble. The present invention has for its object to provide a tens-transfer device of simple construction and which is easily mounted. Another object of the invention is to provide a tens-transfer mechanism the separate parts of which are inexpensive to make due to the fact that they can be manufactured by stamping operations.

A further object is to provide a tens-transfer mechanism which operates with great accuracy and reliability,

A still further object is to produce a tenstransfer device in which the springs employed have no real work to do whereby springs of small dimensions can be used with perfectly satisfactory results.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tens-transfer mechanism in which the movements of all elements are positively limited in each direction so that, even at a' rapid tenstransfer, the totalizer wheels cannot possibly be advanced more than one tooth at the time, and the mechanism will not get out of order.

According to the present invention, these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements set forth in the following detailed description, defined in the appended claims and illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation one denomination of a totalizer and tens-transfer mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the moving mechanism of a calculating machine showing a tens-transfer device according to a second embodiment in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a larger scale of a third embodiment of a tens-transfer device; and

Fig. 4 shows, also in side elevation, a still further modification of a tens-transfer device with its driving elements.

. mesh with the segments 3 a shaft In the embodiment according to Figure 1 the totalizer wheels I are adapted to cooperate with toothed segments 3, which are adapted to rock on a shaft 2 and which by means of levers 4 may beset into desired positions. The totalizer wheels 5 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 5 carried by two plates 1 adapted to rock on a stationary shaft 6, only one of them, however, being visible on the drawings. From each of the said plates there are formed two arms 8, each of which is provided with a roller [0 adapted to cooperate with a cam 9 attached to the shaft 2. Said cam is adapted, after the segments 3 have been set into desired positions, during the rotation of the shaft 2, to rock the arms into such position as will 15 cause the totalizer wheels I to mesh with the segments. When the latter return to their home positions by means of ordinary members not shown on the drawings, the totalizer wheels are rotated a number of pitches corresponding to 20 the effected setting. When the totalizer wheels I ll fastened between the plates 1 enables spring-actuated pawls l2, mounted on a stationary shaft l3, to coact with teeth M on the segments in such a 25 manner that the segments are prevented from rocking in a direction away from the home positions of the latter. After the segments 3 have returned to their home positions the totalizer wheels I leave their engagement with the seg- 30 ments, in which case the shaft ll against the action of the spring force, causes the pawls l2 to assume their neutral positions shown on the drawings. In each denomination in which a tenstransfer may become necessary, a lever I5 is 5 rockably mounted on the shaft l3. With one end, which is provided with a roller ll, each of the levers I5 is adapted to cooperate with a cam I8 attached to the shaft 2, against which cam the roller I1 is held pressed by the action of a spring l6.

Each totalizer wheel is provided with a tens tooth l9 and, except the unit wheel, with a tenstransferring member 20, which, in the shown embodiment, consists of a plate-shaped element adapted to rock on the shaft 5. With each plateshaped element 20 there is rockably connected a feed pawl 2|, which by means of a spring is held in engagement with ratchet teeth 22 provided on the said totalizer wheel. By means of a detaining mechanism each plate-shaped element 20 is normally locked in neutral position. In the here described embodiment, the said detaining mechanism consists of a detent 24, which is adapted to rock on a shaft 23 fastened between preparatory position.

the plates l and which is provided on one hand with a recess 25 and on the other hand with a cam surface 2t. A spring 28 extending between a lug 2'. of the member 243 and the detent 24 tends on one hand to rock the detent 24 in a direction towards the shaft 5, and on the other hand to rock the member 20 in a direction opposite to the feeding direction of the feed pawl 2|. When the parts assume their positions shown in Figure 1 an angularly bent shoulder 29, which is formed from the member 26, is located in the recess 25, but, at this moment; the said shoulder 29 does not serve for detaining the member 20', because the upper end of the lever i5, which in the neutral position of the machine contacts the member 20, defines the position of the latter. When the tens-transfer is to take place the lever l5, however, on account of the shape of the cam l8 and the action of the spring it, assumes the position indicated by dot-dash lines in Figure 1. Then, it is only the detent 2% that prevents the member 29 from being rocked in a direction opposite to the feeding direction of the feed pawl 2 I.

The above described device functions in the following manner:

After the segments have been adjusted, the shaft 2 is rotated, by which the totalizer wheels I, as has been pointed out, mesh with the segments and when the latter return to their home positions, the totalizer wheels are rotated. If during such operation, for example, the tens tooth l9 of the units totalizer wheel passes from nine to zero the said tooth will actuate a projection 3%? formed from the detent 24 belonging to the tens denomination. During this operation the recess 25 of the detent 2 3, is rocked out of engagement with the angularly bent shoulder 22:? of the tens-transferring member 2|] of the tens denomination, and since the lever l5 now does not rest against and detain said member 2!] the same is rocked by the spring 28 until the lug 2'! strikes against the shaft 23. Thus, the tens-transferring member 20 of the tens denomination has been caused to assume After the segments have returned to their home positions the totalizer wheels leave their engagement with the segments 3. Next, all the levers is, beginning with the lever it of the tens denomination, return successively to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1. During this return movement, each tenstransferring member 26 that is in preparatory position, will be restored against the action. of the spring 28, to its neutral position, thus causing the associated feed pawl 28 to rotate the corresponding tens totalizer wheel one step. If,

' during this first tens-transfer the totalizer wheel of the denomination into which the transfer is effected passes from nine to zero, the tenstransferring member of the nexthigher denomination will be released from its neutral position and assume preparatory position. When the angularly formed shoulder 29 of the member 20, after sliding alongthe camsurface 26 of the detent 24, has entered the recess 25, the member 20, by the lever i5, is moved further a little distance in the indicated direction, before the movement of the bar ceases. A small play will thus exist between the shoulder 29 and the lower edge of the recess 25, as will be seen from Figure 1, when the machine is in itsrest position. After the lever E5 of the tens denomination has returned to its home position, the lever l5 of the hundreds denomination will repeat the same movement and 'in this manner the levers l5 are ister provided with two totalizers.

- adjustable, preferably by means of keys.

moved in proper succession, until all the temtransferring members 29, which either during the meshing of the totalizer wheels I with the segments or during the transfer of a ten in the next lower denomination have been released from neutral position and have assumed preparatory position, are restored to their home positions transferring tens at the same time.

The upper edge of the recess 25 constitutes an abutment for the bent shoulder 29 and prevents the tens-transferring member 20 and pawl 2H positively from moving more than one step, even if the tens-transfer is executed at high speed and the upper end of lever It? strikes violently against the tens-transfer member 20.

As is clear from the foregoing all parts included in the device consist of plate members, which may easily be made by simple stamping operations. Further, springs provided in the device have no hard functions to fulfill, and par ticularly in the zero position of the device, the

springs are not subject to any hard stress. The

resetting of the totalizer wheels to zero takes place when the levers I5 assume their positions shown in the drawings, so that the members 20 cannot be rocked. to preparatory positions, when the detents 24 are temporarily rocked out of mesh with the shoulders 29 by the passing tens teeth.

The above described device may also be used with advantage in cash registers provided with.

several totalizers. Figure 2 shows how the device, somewhat modified, is applied to a cash reg- In the drawing figure in question la and lb indicate the totalizer wheels of the two totalizers, said wheels.

being provided with tens teeth l9a, Nib and rotatably mounted on stationary shafts 5a, 5b. One totalizer at a time is, by means of a reciprocating coupling wheel 32, adapted to be put into driving connection with driving wheels 34 rotata-.

Setting racks 5U, reciprocating and The racks 50 in this figure correspond 'to the segbly mounted on a shaft 33. which are known per se, are

ments 3 in Figure l and cooperate with the said,

wheels. If the coupling wheels 32 mesh with the. total'mer wheels la the latter, via the driving wheels 34 and the coupling wheels 32, receive a rotary motion corresponding to the motion of the setting racks. rest position, the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 2. As will be seen from the drawing the levers 15, which are adapted to rock on the shaft I3, then rest against the tens-transferring members 20 in a manner corresponding in Figure 1. However, in the embodiment according to Figure 2 the plate members 20, have a somewhat different shape, although they function in the same manner as in Figure 1. The

feed pawls 2! in the embodiment according to.

' bers 20, and said springs tend, in a manner corresponding to that of the springs 28 in Figure l,

to rock the members 20 in a direction opposite to the feeding direction of the feed pawls.

- In the embodiment according to Figure 2 the detents 24 When the machine assumes.v

to that;

are rockably carried by the members.

20 and the recesses 25 of the said detents '24 are adapted to receive the shaft 35. By means of springs 38 the detents 24 are retained in their positions shown in Figure 2. Due to the fact that in the embodiment in question the tens teeth I911, l9b of the totalizer wheels la, lb cannot, as in the embodiment according to Figure 1, directly actuate the projections 30 of the detents 24, elements 39, serving as motion transmitting members, are rockably mounted on the shaft 33, each. of the said elements being provided with three arms 40a, 40b and 4|. Springs 42 connected with the shaft 35, hold the elements 39 normally in such positions that the arms 40a and 461) are able to cooperate with the tens teeth I94; and I91) and the arms 4| are adapted to cooperate with the projections 30 of the detents 24.

The members, which serve for shifting the coupling wheels 32, do not form part of the present invention, but in order to give a complete idea of the mode of operation of the tenstransferring device, a brief description of the said members and their functions will be given in the following.

On a setting member there is rockably mounted a member 52 provided with an angular portion 53. By means of a draw spring 54 and a pin 55 the member 52, during the up-and-down motion of the setting member 5|, is held in its position, shown on the drawing, relatively to the setting member. Further, there is a lever 56 adapted to rock on the shaft l3 and provided with a slot 51. The lever 56, which in addition to being provided with the slot 51, is provided with angular portions 58a, 58b, tends, by the action of a draw spring 59, to assume the position shown on the drawing, in which case the portion 58a contacts a stationary guide member 63 serving as a sideways guide for the lever 56.

On the drawing all parts assume their resting or normal positions. If, however, a key is depressed, for example, the key shown on the drawing and indicated by BIZ), and the machine is started, cams 62 mounted on the main shaft 2 of the machine will be rotated, whereby arms 63, only one of which is shown on the drawing, are rocked upwardly and finally assume an upper terminal position corresponding to nine pitches of the setting racks 5D. The setting member 5|, which by the action of the spring 64 on an arm 65 is also moved upwardly, will, however, stop when the rack projection 66 corresponding to the depressed key strikes against the free end of the key in question. The setting racks 50 move simultaneously up to positions corresponding to the amounts entered on the amount keys.

A transverse shaft 69, which is united with the arms 63 by means of links 61 and guided in slots 68 in the setting racks 50 and the setting members 5! respectively, has, when the said arms are rocked upwards. been given an upward movement. During this operation the shaft 69 has entered the slot 5! provided in the lever 56 and, on account of the shape of the said slot, it has imparted to the lever 56 a rocking motion directed against two rockably mounted discs A, B. The portion 58b of the lever 56 then hits the portion 53 of the member 52 in the position the latter occupies at this moment. The member 52 in its turn strikes against a bent portion shaped from the disc B and rocks the disc B against the action of a spring H. While the disc B assumes this rocked position upon rotation of a member 12, cams 13 mounted on shaft 2, pull a pin 14 in direction towards the discs A, B. The pin 14 is then caused, by an obliquely downwardly directed slot, formed by the cam surface of the disc B and a recess H provided in a stationary plate 16, to deviate from its otherwise rectilinear path of movement. An arm 18, which is mounted on the shaft I3 and which through a bar 19 is united with the pin 14, is then given a rocking movement. This movement is transmitted by a bar 86 to the arms 81 carrying the coupling wheels 32 and causes the coupling wheels to enter into mesh with the totalizer wheels lb. Thus, these totalizer wheels, from the setting racks 50 via the wheels 34, will then accumulate the amount entered on the keys by the clerk in question, when the arms 65 united with the setting racks 50, during the downward rocking of the arms 63, are taken along by the cross piece 82 provided between the arms 63. The pin 14 is, however, during this operation retained in its position, in spite of the fact that the member 52 accompanies its setting member 5| to the home position. Not until all of the setting racks 50 have reached the last mentioned position does the member 12 move the pin 14 to its home position and thereby the machine has accomplished. one working stroke.

If during the depression of a key 6| the member 52 should stop in such a position that its portion 53 is not given any possibility of cooperating with either of the two shoulders 58a, 58b of the disc 56, the discs A, B, remain in their shown positions. In such a case the pin 14 will pass between the cam or guide surfaces 83 of the last mentioned discs, the said surfaces being turned against each other. In such a case no shifting of the coupling wheels 32 is effected but the machine accomplishes its working stroke without the coupling wheels moving from their shown neutral position. Consequently, neither the totalizer wheels 5a nor 5b will then accumulate any amount.

During a tens-transfer operation the device functions as follows:

The setting racks of the machine, via the driving wheels 34 and the coupling wheels 32, impart to, for example, the totalizer wheels la a 4 certain rotary motion, during which the levers l5 assume their positions indicated by dot-dash lines in Figure 2. If a tens tooth l9a. moves from nine to zero, the arm 40a of the next higher denomination is actuated, whereby the elements 33 are rocked, and the arm 4|, by its cooperation with the projection 39, in its turn rocks the said detent 24 out of its detaining engagement with the shaft 35. The tens-transfer ring member 26, which carries the detent 24, is then enabled to assume preparatory position. After the setting racks have returned to their hdme positions the driving connection between the latter and the driving wheels 34 will cease.-

Yet, the coupling wheels 32 still remain in driving connection with the driving wheels 34 and the totalizer wheels la. Now, the levers l5, in their proper turns, beginning with the lever of the lowest denomination, return to their home positions, and all of the tens-transferring members 20, which either during the rotation of the totalizer wheels by the setting racks or, during the transfer of a ten in the next lower denomination, have been released from neutral positions and assumed preparatory positions, are returned to their home positions, transferring tens at the same time. After the tens-transfer operation has been accomplished the coupling Wheels 32 leave their mesh with the totalizer wheels la.

The embodimentillustrated in Figure 2 may be advantageously modified in the manner shown in Figure 3. As will be seen from the last mentioned figure the detent 24 is rockably mounted on the shaft 35 and the tens-transferring member 20 is provided with a shoulder 29 which corresponds to the angularly bent shoulder 29 in Figure 1 and engages a recess 25 of the detent 24. As to other details this embodiment corresponds to the one shown in Figure 2.

In-the hereinbefore described embodiments, it is, at least theoretically; possible, that a totalizer wheel I, owing to its inertia, performs a greater rotary motion than intended, because the feed pawl 2! of the tens-transferring member is not pressed hard enough against the teeth 22 by the spring holding the feed pawl in mesh with the latter. In order to eliminate any danger in this respect and render the operation of the device as positive as possible, the mechanism is preferably constructed in the manner shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment, each lever I5 is adapted to cooperate directly with the corresponding feed pawl H, which is constructed as a two-armed lever. Consequently, if a tens-transferring member 29 assumes preparatory position, the lever i5 in question, when returning to its neutral position, will positively rock the feed pawl 2i into mesh with the ratchet teeth 22 of the totalizer wheel I in question. In this modification, after the tens-transfer has taken place, the parts will assume the positions shownin full lines in Fig ure 4. As will be seen from the drawings, the bar l5 then prevents the feed pawl 2! from being rocked out of mesh with the teeth 22 and any unintentional rotary movement is effectively preeluded.

In the above described embodiment it is, of course, not possible to reset the totalizer wheels to zero when the parts assume their positions shown in full lines, since, as has already been pointed out in the foregoing, the feed pawls 2| by their mesh with the teeth 22 prevent rotation of the totalizer wheels. To permit, in this embodiment, resetting of the totalizer to zero, the bars i 5 are shifted by the cams E8 to the positions indicated in dot-dash lines so that each feed pawl 72!, can perform a limited rocking movement, to enable the teeth 22, during the resetting to zero, to move past the same. After the setting to zero has taken place the bars I 5 may again be moved up to their positions shown in full lines, but, since the tens-transferring members have not assumed preparatory positions, no shifting of the totalizer wheels is then effected. During an ordinary working stroke of the machine, the bars [5, however, are moved away so far that the tens-transferring members 20 are able to assume preparatory positions and tens-transfers take place in the previously stated manner. Each working stroke may preferably, by the handle of the machine or its driving shaft being moved to and fro, be preceded by a shifting of the cams E3 of the kind above stated, in which case the home positions of the latter will be the positions indicated in dot-dash lines.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tens-transfer mechanism for totalizers having a series of setting members and at least one series of totalizer wheels with projecting tens teeth, .said mechanism comprising a shaft projecting transversely through all denominations of the totalizer, cam controlled means to bring about a .temporary meshing engagement between said series of setting members and a series of totalizer wheels, and, in each denomination in which a tens-transfer may occur, a ratchet wheel tens-transfer member is rocked in one direction,

resilient means urging said tens-transfer member in a rotary direction opposite to that of the feed movement, a support member stationary with'respect to said transverse shaft, a detent pivoted to one of said two members and having its free end urged yieldably towards the other member, said swingable detent being provided with a recess having one shoulder adapted to cooperate with said other member for normally holding said tens-transfer member against the action of said resilient means in a neutral position close to the end point of its feed movement, and a second shoulder cooperating with said other member to limit the feed. movement of said tens-transfer member, means associated with said detent and disposed for cooperation with the tens tooth of the totalizer wheel in the next lower denomination to trip said detent and free the associated tens-transfer member for a rocking movement in the direction opposite to that of the feed movement when the totalizer wheel of the next lower denomination passes from nine to zero, an abutment stationary with respect to said transverse shaft to positively stop said counterfeed movement when said feed pawl has slipped one tooth of said ratchet wheel and to arrest the tens-transfer member in a predetermined preparatory position, means to restore the displaced tens-transfer member to its neutral position thereby moving the associated ratchet wheel through an angular distance corresponding to one tooth and eifecting a tens-transfer, and a cam to operate said restoring means at a predetermined stage of each totalizing operation.

2. A tens-transfer mechanism, as claimed in claim 1, in which said restoring means for the tens-transfer member comprises a reciprocating element said cam being adapted to move said reciprocating element, independently from the means bringing about the meshing engagement between the setting members and totalizer wheels, alternately in counterfeed direction and in feed direction and to hold it at the end point of its feed movement in contact with said tenstransfer member.

3. A tens-transfer mechanism for totalizers having totalizer wheels with projecting tens teeth, said mechanism comprising a first shaft projecting transversely through all denominations of the totalizer, a support member formed as a" second shaft projecting transversely through all denominations of the totalizer and being stationary with respect to said first shaft, and, in each denomination in which a tens-transfer may occur, a ratchet wheel rotatable on said first shaft for transmitting movement to the corresponding totalizer wheel, a plate-shaped tens-transfer member rockable on said first shaft and carrying a feed pawl for driving cooperation with said ratchet wheel when said tens-transfer member is rocked in one direction, resilient means urging said tens-transfer member in a rotary direction opposite to that of the feed movement, a detent pivoted to one of said two members and having its free end urged yieldably towards the other;

member, said swingable detent being provided with a recess having one shoulder adapted to cooperate with said other member for normally holding said tens-transfer member against the action of said resilient means in a neutral position close to the end point of its feed movement, and a second shoulder cooperating with said other member to limit the feed movement of said tens-transfer member, means associated with said detent and disposed for cooperation with the tens tooth of the totalizer wheel in the next lower denomination to trip said detent and free the associated tens-transfer member for a rocking movement in the direction opposite to that of the feed movement when the totalizer wheel of the next lower denomination passes from nine to zero, a projecting arm on said tenstransfer member shaped and disposed to abut against said second shaft when said feed pawl has slipped one tooth of said ratchet wheel during a counterfeed movement of said tens-transfer member and to arrest the latter in a predetermined preparatory position, and means to restore the displaced tens-transfer member to its neutral position thereby moving the associated ratchet wheel through an angular distance corresponding to one tooth and effecting a tens-transfer.

4. A tens-transfer mechanism for totalizers having totalizer wheels with projecting tens teeth, said mechanism comprising a shaft projecting transversely through all denominations of the totalizer, and in each denomination in which a tens-transfer may occur, a ratchet wheel rotatable on said shaft for transmitting movements to the corresponding totalizer wheel, a plateshaped tens-transfer member rockable on said shaft and carrying a feed pawl for driving cooperation with said ratchet wheel when said tenstransfer member is rocked in one direction, said feed pawl comprising beyond its pivot point is projecting lever arm, resilient means urging said tens-transfer member in a rotary direction opposite to that of the feed movement, a support member stationary with respect to said transverse shaft, a detent pivoted to one of said two members and having its free end urged yieldably towards the other member, said swingable detent being provided with a recess having one shoulder adapted to cooperate with said other member for normally holding said tens-transfer member against the action of said resilient means in a neutral position close to the end point of its feed movement, means associated with said detent and disposed for cooperation with the tens tooth of the totalizer wheel in the next lower denomination to trip said detent and free the associated tens-transfer member for a rocking movement in the direction opposite to that of the feed movement when the totalizer wheel of the next lower denomination passes from nine to zero, means to stop said counterfeed movement when said feed pawl has slipped one tooth of said ratchet wheel and to arrest the tens-transfer member in a predetermined preparatory position, and means to restore the displaced tenstransfer member to its neutral position thereby effecting a tens-transfer, said restoring means including a reciprocating element disposed for cooperation with said lever arm on the feed pawl, so as to positively rock the latter into mesh with said ratchet wheel during the feed movement of the tens-transfer member.

5. A tens-transfer mechanism, as claimed in claim 4, in which said reciprocating element is adjustable to an intermediate position in which said pawl is free to carry out a rocking movement while said tens-transfer member is prevented from assuming its preparatory position.

KARL MATTS VIGBORG. 

